Cable-gripping device



HARRY F. CURTIS, 0F OVERBROOK, FENNSYLVANIA.

CABLE-GRIPPING DEVICE.

Application led February 11, 1921. Serial No. 444,122.

To all whomz't may concern Be it known `that I, HARRY F. CURTIS,

a citizen of the Unit-ed States, and a resident of Overbrook, county of Montgomery,

andY rStateof Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Cable-Grippiiig Devices, of which the following is a specification.

llhis invention aims to provide a cable- -gripping device which will permit a cable to be gripped at any pointintermediate its ends for theV purpose of enabling the same to be 4pulled by any suitable pulling means.

The invention has been embodied `in a structure comprising a shell and a `wedge without any` mechanical connections between them, the construction being such that the wedge and cable may be entered int-o and removed from the shell through a slot in a wall of thesame.

Other features of novelty and construction will become apparent from the detailed description of the invention taken in connection .with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this speciiicatiomreference, however, being had to the appended claims for the scope of the invention.

In the drawing wherein I have shown the preferred form of the invention, F ig. 1 is a side elevation of the clamping device showing a cable as gripped by the device.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on the plane of line 2-2 of Fig.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the wedge of the device in position to permit the cable to be entered into the shell.

Fig. 4i is a transverse section taken on the plane of line 1 4 of Fig.

Fig. 5 isa side elevation ,of the device showing how the members of the device may be held together when the device is not in use.

Fig. 6 is aside elevation of the device showing how the wedge may be entered into or removed from the shell,`

Fig. is a cross section on the plane of line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

restricted handle-like member 11 extending longitudinally thereof.

The shell has a taper corresponding -to that of the wedge, the degree of taper being suitable for the purpose in view.

One wall of the shell or sleeve S is slotted as at l2 to permit the cable C and wedge member lV to pass therethrough. rl`he exi tension 11 is preferably so arranged with respect to the wedge 10 that an edge 10a of the-latter shall be in the same plane as an edge 11FL of the former. The opposite edges l0b and 1lb are thus in stepped relation at point 13.

rlhe terminal of the extension 11 is preferably in the nature of a lateral lug 14E of substantial width to enable it to stand up under hammer blows to which it will be subjected in releasing the grip of the device on the cable and through this lug is passed a link or ring 15 to which may be attached any suitable pulling device for drawing on the cable after it has been gripped.

The edge 111 of the extension 11 is adapted to be entered through the slot 12 in the shell S, the length of the edge being at least as long as the shell S, to permit such passage.

The relative position of the wedge and shell when brought to the cable is usually as indicated in Fig. 5.

hen a cable is to be gripped, the shell is moved longitudinally toward the small end of the wedge until vthe shoulder 13 is passed whereupon the `shell is moved laterally of the wedge and seated on the shoulder 13. l/Vhen the shell is heavy as is the case when the device is constructed for use with large cables the advantage of so supporting the shell relatively to the wedge is obvious. The device is now in condition to receive the cable C, which as will `now be readily seen, may be gripped at any desired point since it is merely necessary to pass it through the slot 12.

After the cable has been entered into the shell the latter is pushed off the shoulder 13, whereupon relative longitudinal movement of the shell and wedge will effect a gripping engagement with the cable which engager ment is increased as the wedge is pulled in the direction of its small end as will be readily understood.

The cable-contacting edge 10 of the wedge is preferably made slightly concave to center the cable on the wedge. The slot 12 is prefis entered into or removed from the shell in the manner indicated in Figs.- 6 and 7, thatis to say, by passing the restricted part of the Wedge inembenthiough the slotk While giving it a turningmotioii.

From the above it Will be seen thatI have provided an extremely simple and satisfactory cable gripping device. There are no mechanical connections between the Wedge member and sleeve and yet the arrangement is such that both members may be interlocked to prevent misplacement of t-lie parts. The shell and wedge may be made from commercial plate material vthereby inalring Jfor low cost of manutacture and by reason of the simple construction is not liable to get out of order.

While l have described the invention with greatdetail l desire it lto be distinctly un derstood that l intend no limitations other than those imposed by the appended claims.

What l. claim is: -l. ln a cable gripping device, the combi nation ot' a tapered shell having a slot intermediate its tapered edges, a wedge member having a restricted portion greater in length than the length of said shell, the restricted portion being separated from the remaining transverse to the Wedge member whereby the o shell may be supported and rotated upon said shoulder.

2. AL cable gripping device having in combination a' fiat Wedge having an edge with a single sharply defined indentation forming a transverse shoulder` thereon and a shell having the same internal taper as the yWedge and having a slot in one of its Walls, the slot being 0'1"' such Width that'the Wedge may be removed from the shell by tilting and sliding the Wedge on itsy transverse shoulder untilv one edge of the Wedge projects through the slotf 3. In a cable gripping device, a tapered shell having a slot intermediate its tapered edges, a Wedge membeihavinga straight edgeand having a transverse shoulder opposite said straight edge, with `the parts lforming theother edge `at substantially the saine angularity 'to the" straight edge, the

transverse shoulder serving as a support for vthe shell. i-

ln Witness whereof, lf have hereunto set my hand this 10th day of February, 1921..

HARRY if.' loURris. 

